* Recent tests of Linux-based products by Network World
Network World’s product testing gurus recently tested several products that could help users interested in deploying open source technology in a number of ways.
Our recent test of the Linux-based IT-100 appliance from EmergeCore got positive reviews from independent product tester Paul Ferrill in a Network World Clear Choice Test, published earlier this month http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2005/071105-emergecore-test.html?rl.
The IT-100 is a combination firewall, e-mail, Web, FTP and file-sharing server aimed at small businesses. The device, about the size of a SOHO broadband router, packs 10/100 Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, USB 2.0 ports and a 20G-byte hard drive into a tiny space.
“For a Linux option that is simple to set up and configure, consider the EmergeCore IT-100 IT in a Box appliance,” Ferrill writes.
Users interested in managing mixed Windows and Linux environments can check out our test of the Interstructures Microsoft Management Console (MMC) from QCD Microsystems http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2005/071805-qcd-test.html?rl.
This software tool allows users to manage Linux servers from a Windows workstation and integrate Linux servers into an Active Directory schema. While tester Tom Henderson of ExtremeLabs says “it might be heresy” to manage Linux servers through a Windows workstation, the software could be a useful tool for Windows-centric users forced to manage mixed environments.
For users interested in IP address management tools, and who are not afraid to get their hands dirty with the open source MySQL database, check out our test of IPControl http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2005/071105-ip-test.html?rl.
A follow-up to a previous multi-product test of IP address management systems, Barry Nance of Network Testing Labs and the Network World Lab Alliance says that the IPControl software from International Network Services was a good tool for discovering and taking inventory of networked devices on a LAN. The software, which uses the MySQL database and can run on either Red Hat Linux or Solaris, was found to be a lower-cost alternative to similar IP address management products from Lucent and Metainfo.
For a complete list of the recent tests carried out by Network World’s product testing team, please go to:
